Well casing for lateral bores



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J. A. ZUBLIN WELL CASIIG FOR LATERAL BORES Filed May 10, 1944 March 19, 1946. J. A. ZUBLIN v WELL CASING FOR LATERAL BORES Filed May 10, 1944 5 sheets-sheet 2 March 19, 1946.

J. A. zUBLlN WELL CASING FOR LATERAL BORES Filed May 10, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JMIJ Zzlw- March 19, 1946. J. A. ZUBLIN WELL cAsNG FQR LATERAL BoREs 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 10, 1944 arch 19, 1946 J. A. ZUBLIN WELL CASING FOR LATERAL BORES Filed May 10, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 19, 1946 uNirsu STATES lPli'rlzN'r oFFrc-f.

WELL CASING FOR LATERAL BORES John A. Zublin, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 10, 1944, Serial No. 534,930

(ci. 16e-4) v 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in well casings, more particularly as applied to the casing of lateral bores. In its specific aspects, the invention contemplates the provision of means for closing the opening in a vertical well casing around a lateral casing and to more or less interlock the vertical and lateral casings.

In my earlier Patents No. 2,336,334 and No. 2,336,338, I have disclosed means and methods for producing deviating bores that extend laterally from an existing vertical well bore. To permit the drilling and subsequent casing of these deviating bores, it is usualV to cut elongated windows or openings in the wall of the casing of the existing vertical well, the lateral drilling operation and subsequent casing of the lateral bore being effected through such window or opening, l A suitable casing for use in casing a lateral bore deviating from a vertical bore has been disclosed and constitutes the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 517,559, filed January 8, 1944.

The present invention has for its purpose the provision of means for closing the window. or opening in the'wall of the vertical casing around the casing that projectsl into the lateral bore, so as to avoid any deleterious eiiects of material that may cave in from the upper wall of the deviating bore, and to provide an effective interlock at the point of juncture of the vertical and lateral casings while, at the same time, leaving the vertical casing open both above and below the lateral bore to permit of continued production therefrom and, if need be, the operation of pumping equipment or the like in that portion of the vertical casing below the lateral bore.

More detailed and specific objects of the invention will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds, which will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention in process of being introduced into the wel Fig. 2 is a detailed view showing the embodiment of Fig. 1 after the lateral casing and window closing means have been fully installed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, showing the position of parts as the casing and closing means are being introduced into the well;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged sectional View showing the position of parts after the lateral casing enclosing means have been brought to 'nal position;

Fig. 5-is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3: v

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on line 6-8 of Fig. '4;

Fig. 'l is a, side elevational vview with parts in section showing a second modication of the in-A vention in process oi' being introduced into a well;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view shield closing means of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the window closing shield of Fig. '1;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view showing the closing shield of Fig. 7 in its iinal installed position in the well;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view on line lI-li of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view on line l2-I2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is icross-sectional view on line4 13--13 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a view of still another modication of the invention showing the closing means in its nnal installed position in the well;

Fig. 15 is a'sectional view showing the embodiment of Fig. 14 in process of being introduced into the well;

Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 14 removed from the well casing;

Fig. 1'? is a cross-sectional view on the line l'l-ll of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view on line 18-18 of Fig. 15.

Referringto Fig. 1, the existing vertical well i from which the lateral bore 3 has been drilled, is provided with the usual vertical well casing 3 through the Wall of which the window d is cut to permit of drilling of the lateral bore, such as 2, in accordance with the teachings of my prior patents hereinbefore referred to. After the lateral bore 2 has been completed, it becomes necessary to insert a suitable well casing into the lateral bore to preclude premature shutting 011' of the lateral bore through cave-ins and the like.

To this end, I have heretofore provided and adapted a flexible casing such as indicated at 5 for insertion into the lateral bore. The forward or free end of the flexible casing 5 is conveniently provided with a tapered nose 6 which is desirably apertured as at l for a purpose to be presently described.

The rear or trailing end of the iiexible casing 5 of the 'is adapted to be threadedly received as shown at generally at 9 for eectively closing the window :4 of the casing 3 when in finally installed position, as more fully shown in Fig. 2.

By reference to Fig. 5. it will be noted that the y' smem s is concentric with the casing a and adapted,fwh en in nally installed position as shown in i is threadedly received as shown at 3. The projection I3 lies substantially outside the inner circumierence of the casing 3 and is provided with a second set oi threads, in this instance lefthanded threads, II for receiving the lower end I2 of a flexible tube I3 which, in accordance with this embodiment of. the invention. extends to the surface of the well and can be used for lowering the iiexible casing 6, shield 9, and its attendant parts to be presently described, into the well.

A hose I4 is adapted to extend from the surface of the well through the tube I3 and into the flexible casing 5. Fluid can be introduced through the hose I4 and forced out through the opening 1 -in the nose 6 to iiush the lateral 4bore 2 in advance of the casing 5 as the latter is inserted into the lateral bore.

The shield 3 is adapted, during the process of being lowered into the well, to be interlocked through the medium oi the collar I5 and shear pins I6 with the tube I1. 'I'he upper end of the tube I1 is completely cylindrical, thus lining the casing 3. The tube I1 is, however. progressively cut away iirst along the inclined face I8 and vertical line I9, and then along the inclined face 20 and vertical line 2I (Fig. 2). The upper end of the shield 9 is cut along inclined face 22 at the same inclination as the faces I 8 and 20. When the shield 9 and the tube I1 are interlocked to be lowered into the well as shown in Fig. 1, the inclined upper end 22 of the shield 9 abuts the inclined face 20 at the lower cut away portion of the tube II,l and the collar I5, with its shear pins I3, holds the shield 9 and tube I'I in this position.

When the guide iln 23 on the shield 9 reaches the window 4 in the casing 3, there is a tendency for the shield 9 and the lower end of the tube I1 to be canted toward the window 4. This cantine movement is resisted to some extent by the cylindrical portion at the upper end of the tube I1. At this point, the flexible tube I3 may have its lower end I2 unscrewed from the threads II in the shield 3, permitting the elevation at the surface of the well of the tube I3 and the concurrent `withdrawal of the hose I4 from the lateral exible casing l.

When the hose I4 has been withdrawn from the flexible casing l, the tube I3 is again lowered, but at this time the hose I4 andthe tube I3 merely project down into the vertical casing 3 below the lateral bore 2 as indicated in Fig. 4. it being understood that the tube I3 passes freely through the interior o! the shear pin carrying collar Il. There is afllxed to the tube I3 at an appropriate position thereon, a collar 24 "which is adapted, when Ithe tube I 3 is lowered in the manner indicated in-Fis. 4, to strike the upper face 2l of the tube I1 and to impose sumcient weight on the face 25 of the tube I1 to shear the-shear pins I6 and drive the tube I1 downwardly, forcing the shield 9 downwardly and outwardly until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the inclined upper end 22 y Y y 2,so7,ovo 3 (Fig. 4) in a shield or closure member indicated of the shield 9- abuts the inclined face I8 of the tube I'I and the completeassembiy comes to rest with the shield 9 acting effectively close the wirtdow 4 in the casing 3 and interlock the iiexible 5 lateral casing 5 with the vertical casing 3. It will be appreciated that the shield 9 and the tube I1 may be cut from an elongated tube of slightly less diameter than the casing' 3. It is likewise apparent that when the shield 9 and tube I1 in Fig. 2, rthe vertical casing 3 is open, being only reduced in diameter at the point of installation by the thickness of the wall of the tube i1, In this way, the vertical well is in no way impaired by virtue of the drilling and casing of the deviatlng bore 2.

Referring next to the modification oi Figs. 7 to 13, it will be observed that a highly simplied form of shield for closing the window 4 in the casingk 3 has been provided. In this modiiication, the exible lateral casing 5 has its terminal end threadedly received in the shield 9a as indicated at 3a. The shield 9a has a short tubular portion 9b at its upper end and a terminal locking lip 9c at its lower end.

Fig. 7 illustrates the position occupied by the shield 9a and the iiexible casing 5 during the lowering of the same into the well. In Fig. l0. the shield 9a is shown in the position that it oc- 39 cupies when fully installed in the weil, in which position the lip 9c interlocks with the casing 3 below the flexible casing 5. In this modification, the flexible casing 5 and the shield 9a are adapted to be lowered into the well through the medium of a fishing tool designed for and capable oi gripping the upper tubular end 9b of the shield 9a, and to permit of the application of suiiclent force thereto to drive the shield 9a into fully installed position.

By reference to the sectional views of Figs. 11, 12 and 13, it will be observed that the shield 9a. eiectively closes the window 4 of the casing 3, and also interlocks the flexible casing 5 with the vertical casing 3. In this modification, as in the modication of Figs. 1 to 6, the vertical casing 3 is left open for continued production from the vertical well as it existed prior to the drilling and casing of the deviating bore. It will therefore be appreciated that any conventional pumping equipment such as indicated generally at X in- Fig. 10, may be installed and operated within the vertical casing 3 below the lateral .bore 2 after the installation of the iiexible casing 5 and shield 9a.

Coming next to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 14v to 18, it will be observed that in this modification the window closing and casing interlocking device takes the form of a tubular section 26 having a pivoted specially constructed section 21. The section 21 is formed at its upper end with an arcuate hinge section 23 adapted to' be seated in a complemental hinge recess 29 in the tubular member 26. The section 21 is adapted to project through the window 4 in the casing 3 as indicated at 30 and to receive the threaded end 3l of the iiexible casing 35. The shield section 21 also carries the downwardly projecting lip 32 which is adapted to interlock with the casing 3 at the bottom of window 4 as shown at 33 (Fig. 14).

In this modification, as in the modication of Figs. '7 to 13, the entire device including the flexible casing i` is adapted to be lowered into the vertical well casing 3 through the medium of 75 an appropriate iishing tool adapted to be received within and to clamp the -upper end of the tubular section 26. In both the modifications of Figs. 'I` to 13 and Figs. 14 to 18, the flexible casing 5 may be flexed before introduction into the well in such manner as to ensure its continuing tendency to take the curvature of the devating .bore as the same is inserted thereinto with the re- `sult that when the flexible casing is fully inserted and the shield 9a lor tubular member 26 reaches its nal position of adjustment, the shield section will extend outwardly of the window 4 l same within the vertical casing when said flexible into the deviating bore and effectively close the i window around the casing 5 without blocking the vertical casing 3.

It will be observed that in the final position of adjustment of the window closing shield, the vertical casing 3 is open, being reduced in diameter at the point of installation of the window shield closing device only by the thickness of the wall of the shield 9a. or the tubular section 26.

From the foregoing specification and the aecompanying drawings it will be apparent that I have provided a novel and effective means for closing a window or opening in a vertical well casing upon completion of the drilling and casing of a lateralbor deviating from a vertical well in which such vertical casing is disposed. It is to be understood that the foregoing description is given by way of illustration and exempliilcation of the invention, and not in limitation thereof; the scope of the invention being that comprehended by the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A shield for effectively closing an opening in the wall of a vertical well casing surrounding a laterally extending casing projecting from the vertical casing, said shield comprising a vertically elongated arcuate member, an offset portion carried by said shield, a threaded opening in said offset portion for threadedly receiving the trailing end of a lateral casing, said offset portion being so related to the vertically elongated arcuate portion of the shield that it lies substantially outside the inner circumference of a vertical well casing when said shield and laterally extending casing havev been installed and limits the downward movement of said shield.

2. In combination, Aa Viiexible oil we1l` casing l casing is fully inserted in the lateral bore.

3. In combination, a flexible oil well casing adapted to be inserted into a lateral bore deviating from a vertical bore through an opening in a vertical casing disposedin said vertical bore, a shield carried -by the trailing end of said flexible casing, said shield being curved to substantially conform to the wall of a vertical well casing, and adapted when installed to extend within the vertical casing above and below the point of juncture between the flexible casing and a vertical casing in the Vertical bore.

4. In combination, a flexible oil well casin capable of insertion in a lateral bore, deviating from a vertical bore, through a window in a vertical well casing in said vertical bore, closing means for closing the window about said flexible casing and adapted to be brought into closing relation with the window when said flexible casing is fully inserted inthe lateral bore, said closing means including means cooperating with the window wall forl holding said closing means against displacement after the same is brought into closing relation with said window.

5. In combination, a vertical well casing, a window in said casing, a second casing adapted to be projected through said window and inserted in a lateral well bore, means insertable through said vertical casing and so associated with said second casing as to close said window around said second casing when said second casing is fully projected through said window, said closing means including means cooperating wit the window wall for holding said closing means against displacement after the same is brought into closing relation with said window.

6. In combination, a flexible oil well casing adapted to be inserted into a lateral bore deviating from a vertical bore through an opening in a-vertical casing disposed in said vertical bore, a shield carried by the trailing end of said flexible casing, said shield being curved to substancapable of insertion in a lateral bore, deviating from a vertical bore. through a window in a vertical well casing ln said vertical bore, closing means interconnectable withy said flexiblev casing tially conform to the wall of a vertical well cas-` ing and adapted when installed to extend within the vertical casing above and below thev point of juncture of the flexible casing and a verti cal casing, and means for holding said shield against displacement when installed.

' J OHN A. ZUBLIN. 

